Circuit interrupter



Oct. 11,1927.

F/igl G. E. PALMER CIRCUIT INTEREIUPTER Filed March 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES! I 7 ATTORNEY INVENTOR Gram Mr EPO/MEIT Patented Oct, 11, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

. UNITED? STATES;

GRANVILLE EL PALMER, or C MBRIDGE,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA. a

cracorr INTERRUPTER.

Application file dMa rch' "17,1924. Serial No. 699,635.

My inventionrelates to electrical switching apparatus,and more particularly to a remotely disposed circuit interrupter for alternating-current networks.

An object of my invention 'is to provide 5 a remotely disposed circuit interrupter that shall open'an alternating-currentcircuit upon abnormal decrease in potential or failure of current in the circuit.

Another object of my invention is to provide acircuit interrupter; of 5 the aboveindicated characterptliat' shall be closed by a series of electrical and mechanical operations consequent to theopera'tion of 'a remotely disposed switch. I

' A furtherpbject-of'my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter that shall be locked in its closed position by mechanical means which is adaptedto be released when the voltage in the circuitfalls below a predetermined value. i My invention is an improvement over the low voltage circuit interruptenshown and described in'my priorPatent No. 1,179,957,

patented April' 18, 1916, and a low -voltage circuit breaker shown and described in the patent to Johnson, No. 1,4;31956 issued October 17, 1922;both of which'are assigned to the lVestinghouse Electric & Manufactur in Company. H

Tnthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a frontelevational "view of a circuit interrupter embodying my invention.

taken along the section line III,III of'Fig.

l and alsoshowing in dot'and dashlines" an additional operating detail lying in front of that section line the closed position of"the* circuit interrupter being "shown in full,- lines and the open position being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 4 is a View, partially diagrammatic, and partially perspective, of apparatus and" circuits embodying my invention.

In the several figures of the drawingfthe same reference numerals indicate similar parts. p

In my invention, I pro-vitl'e a'circuit interrupter comprising a base member 1, a solenoid 2 mountedthe're'on andhaving a movable core member 3 anda lever arm 4- thatis actuated thereby. 'lhear'nci a, which is pivotally mounted on a shaft5,"supports Fig.2 is a side elevational viewthereof. Fig; 3 is a view 'ofmypclrcult interrupter a cross-bar '6, which in turn supports a pair of movable members? and 8. The members 7 and *8 are of rectilinear form and are severally provided with main contact brushes 9 and '11 and arcing contact members l3 and 14;

Stationary contact members 15 and 16 are able core 'member 3, as'atfll', and is prov1ded adjacent'to its-upper end with a slot 1.8; in which a latch member 19 is pivotally mounted on a, shaft 21. The latchmember 19 is provided with a notch 22 and a tailpiece 23, which terminates in a projectionQa.

A bracket 25 isfsecured to'the base member'l andit forms a support and magnetizable housing for the-solenoid 2; and a' support for a projection'26 of U-shapethat extends into the slot 18. Thedatch 19'is adaptedto ride over the-cross-ipiece 26, and

the notch-22is adapted to fall over it'when the arm 4 is in the closed position of the circuit interrupteri An 'arm or; bell-crank lever 27 is pivotally mounted, as at 28,-011 the bracket 25. The

innerend of the arm 27 termiiiatesfin a" weight 29 thatihas projection 31 extend mg from" one corner thereof. The other end of the arm127 terminates ina plate "or cam 82, which extends outwardly "beyond and to'the left of lever arm 4 for engag ing a pin26 thereon during the closing 7: operation o-f'the circuit interru oter. A prorom the arm" 'jec-t'ion 33 extends upwardly 27 at a pointadjacent to the pivot 28'. A bracket 35 is. 'securedto the base memher 1 and pivotally supports a bell crank "lever 36 comprising arms 37 and 38 and a latch 39, the latterco-operating with the projection 31 on the weightmem-ber 29. A spring 41 isso disposed as to bias the bell crank lever 36in a counterclockwise direc-' tion. It will be observed that the arm 37 and the latch 39 extend ayvertical direc tion while the arm 38 eXt'en'dsin'a horizontal direction. Afipair of solenoidsbrtrip coils I position.

42 are disposed above the arm 38 of the lever 36 in such manner that its weighted armature 43 impinges upon the arm 38 when released by the solenoids 42. The armature 43 carries a bridging member 44 which closes the circuit between stationary contact members 45 and 46 when the armature 43 is in its raisedposition. I

A pawl 48 is secured by a shaft or pin 49 to the bracket 25, and is biased in a counter-clockwise direction by. a spring 51 that is coiled about the shaft 49. The lower edge of the pawl 48 rests between the projcction 24 on the latch 19 and the projection 33 on the arm27, when the circuit in-.

the yoke member 61 when the arm 4 moves from'its open to its closed position. .The outer, end of the lever. 63 is provided with a notch 64, andan extension 65is attached near the other end by means of a pintle 66 and a spring 67. V j i A bridging member 68 is carried. at the free end of the extension 65, and is adapted to engage a pair of stationary contact members 69 when'the circuit interrupter is in its open position, and to rest against stop memhere 71 when the circuit interrupter is in its closed position. A spring 72 is mounted on the shaft 5 and tends to normally bias the lever 63 in a counter-clockwise direction or to its circuit-interrupting position. A'latch 75 is pivotally mounted. on a pin or shaft 76, and is biased by a coil spring 77 into en-' gagement with the notch 64 of the lever 63 when the circuit mterrupter is in its open A bracket 78 secures a meinber7 9 of insulating material to the lower face of the yoke 61. A pair of' bridging members 81 are mounted on the insulating member 79 and are adapted to engage stationary contact members 82 when thecircuit interrupter is in its open position. The bridging members 81 and stationary contact members 82 may be placed. in circuit with a pilot lamp, alarm bell. or any. other desired indicating means.

A fuse 83 that is in circuit with the'solc; noids 42, is secured by clips 84 to the has member 1. I

In Fig. 4, a supply circuit of relatively lowjvoltage is indicated'at 91. This circuit extends from. the stationary contact member 15 of the movable members 7 and 8, through thestationary contact members 16 to any desired electrical translating apparatus. will thus ,be secn that the movable contact -members 9 and .11 are connected directly series with the circuit under control.

A second circult extends from the terminal 94, that 15 connected to one conductor of the circuit 91, through a switch 95, which may be located at any remote point, the solenoids 42, and to a terminal 96 which" is connected to the other conductor of the circuit 91'. v A third circuit extends from a terminal 97, in one conductor of the supply circuit'9l, hrough the stationary contact members 69, the bridging member 68, solenoid 2, station-- ary contact member 45, 46, and the bridging contact 44, to a terminal 98 in the other conductor of the supply circuit 91.

It isto be observed that the setond circuit is completed upon the closing of the switch 95, and that the solenoids 42 are normally energized at all times. The third circuit is completed only whenthe bridging member 68 is in engagement with the sta tionary contact members 69 and the bridging);

I contact member 44 is in engagement with the stationary contact members 45 and 46.

In order to operate my improved switching device from the open position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 3, to the closed position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the operator closes the switch 95, whereupon the solenoids 42 become energized and the circuit is completed between the stationary-contact members 45 and46 by the bridgingmember 44 that is mounted on the armature 43. As is shown in Fig. 3, the lever 63 and the extension 65 are so disposed as to close the'circuit through the stationary contact member 69 and the bridging member 68, when the lever 4 is in its circuit-interrupting position.

/Vhenthe circuit is completed between the stationary contact members 451and 46, the solenoid 2isv energized and exerts a force upon its armature member 3,. which in turn is transmitted to the arm 4 and themovahle membe'rs7 and 8, causing them'to .turn in ;counter-c1ockwise direction about. the shaft 5. As the arm '4 turns to the left, as shown inF 3, the tail-piece 23 of the latch 19.

engages the plate 32 of the arm 27, causing thelatch 19 to turnin a clockwise direction about its pivot 21, and causing the lever 27 to turn in a clockwise direction about its pivot 28. This movement is continued until the. tail-piece 23 of the latch 19 passes over the bracket 26,, and the notch 22 is in place.

At thesame time, the weightmember 29 is raised by thelever 27, and the projection'31 thereon is retainedby the latch 39. During this movement the pawl 48 is pushed to the left by the projection 24 on ,the'latch 19. and thereafter moves over and drops behind this projection infront of the projection 33on the arm 27; The spring 51 so biases the pawl 48 into this position, that the latch 19 is V normally held in. contact with the bracket 26 by reason ofthe engagement of the pawl 48 r with the projections 24 and 33. p

As the arm 4 reaches the end of its travel, the. projection'62 bears against the latch 75 in opposition to the tension of the spring 77 causing the latch 7 5 to be disengaged from the notch 64, whereupon the third circuit is interrupted by reason of the action of the spring 72 in separating the stationary contact members 69 and the bridging member 68. The interruption of the circuit between the stationary contact members 69 and bridging member 68 serves-to de energize the solenoid 2 while the movable members 7 and 8 remain in their circuit closing position.

In the case of excessive voltage drop in thecircuit 91, the solenoids 42 become deenergized to such degrees that the weighted armature 43 moves downwardly under the influence of the force of gravity, at the same time separating the stationary-contact members 45, 46 .and the bridging contact member 44. The armature 43 falls upon the arm 38 with sufiicient force to compress the spring 4l and disengage the latch 39 from the weight member 29, whereupon the arm 27 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 28, and the projection 33 turns the pawl 48 in a clockwise direction against-the tension of the spring 51. This action permits the projection 24 on the latch 19 to move from under the pawl 48, and the notch 22 is disengaged from the bracket 26,

whereupon the arm'4 and the movable mem-- here 7 and 8 are caused to move in a clockwise direction aboutthe pivot 5 by reason of the inherent resiliency of the brushes 9 and 11, together with the force of gravity, and if desired, also by a spring mounted on the shaft 5 to the open position shown by broken lines in Fig; 3. During the circuit-inter rupting movement, the yoke 61 engages the arm 63 tocausethe latter to complete the circuit between the stationary contact mem- -ber 69 andthe bridging contact member 68 in which position it is held by the engagement between the notch 64 and the latch 75. In the event that the operator desires to interrupt the circuit through the -moving contact members 9 and 11,he interrupts the circuit atthe switch 95, which results in the de-en'ergization of the solenoids 42 and the resultant tripping of the members 7 and 8. It will thus be seen that I have provided a switching device which is held in its closed position by reason of a normally energized circuit. It is also to be observed that the circuit of the main operating solenoid 2 is interrupted when the switch reaches its closed position, and'at another point when the voltage in the circuit under protectio fallsbelow a predetermined value. v

It is to be understood that such changes may be made in the apparatus and circuits herein shown, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a movable member having contact members there- I on, a solenoid for actuating the movable.

member to closed position of the switch, means tending to actuate the movable member to open the switch, a stationary bracing member, a pivoted member supported on the movable member and provided with a recess adapted to coincide with the bracing member when the switch is III'ClOSGCl posi tion, a latching member disposed to engage the pivoted member to hold it against the bracing .member, and electromagneticallycontrolledmeans for controlling the latching member.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a movable member having contact members thereon, a solenoid for actuating the movable the pivoted member to hold it against the bracing member, gravity-actuated means for controlling the latching member to release the pivoted member, and an electromagnet ically-controlled member for controlling the gravity-actuated means.

8. A switch mechanism comprising a movable member having contact members thereon, a solenoid for actuating the movable member to closed position of the switch,

means tending to actuate the movable member to open the switch, a stationary bracing member, a pivoted member supported on the movable member and provided with a recess adapted to coincide with the bracing member when the switch is in closed position, a latching member disposed'to engage the pivoted member to hold it against the bracing member, a gravity-actuated means for controlling the latching member to release the pivoted member, a supporting member normally restraining movement of the gravity-actuated means, and an electromagnetically-controlled' member for rendering the supporting member ineffective.

4. Switch inechanism'comprising a stationary member, a movable member, a pivotedmember on the movable member for engaging the stationary member, a spring-controlled latch for maintaining the pivoted member in effective engagen'ient with the stationary member to preclude movement of the" movable member and a pivoted weight member for increasing the effectiveness of the spring-controlled latch.

Switch mechanism COIIlPllSlIlg a stationary member, a movable member, a pivoted'member mounted on the movable member adaptedto engagethe stationary member when the movable member is in a predetermined position, a spring-controlled pivoted member for maintaining the first-mentioned Lil Hit)

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the stationary member and adapted to engagethe same when the movable member is in the closed position of the switch, latching means for maintaining the pivoted and the stationary members in engagement to preclude relative movement t-herebetween, a gravity-actuated member for actuating the latching means to release the movable mem-.

her and means for actuating the movable member to open-switch position.

7. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch supporting member, a stationary bracing member, holding means co operating with the stationary member and the movable members to preclude movement of the movable member, a weight for rendering said means ineffective, a latch for normally maintaining the weight in raised position, means for actuating the latch to release the weight to permit movement of the movable member, and means controlled by the movable member for resetting the weight in operative-- position.

8. Switch mechanism comprisinga mov able switch supporting member, a stationary bracing member, holding meansco-operating with the stationary member and the movable members to preclude movement of the movable member, a weight for rendering said means ineffective, a latch for normally maintaining the weight in raised position, electromagnetically-controlled means 7 thereby render the holding means ineitective,

and means controlled by the movable member for, resetting the weight in operative position be'lore'the holding means are again rendered etlective. 7 y y S Switcl'i mechanism con'iprising movable switch member, a holding means therefor compi'sing a latch, means comprising a weight for rendering the holding means inetiective'by actuating the latch, and means controlled by the movable member tor reset ting the weight.

10. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch member, a holding means there- (iii for comprising a latch, means comprising a weight for rendering the holding means inetfective-by actuating vthe latch, a holding devicefor the weight comprising a-springcontrolled pivotally-mounted member, electro-magnetic rmeans for controlling. the

for actuating the latch to release the weight and operation of the holding device, and means controlled by the movable member for resettingthe weight. v

11. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch member, a holding means there for comprising alatch, means comprising a weight for rendering'the holding means ineffective by actuating the latch, a holding device for the weight comprising aspringcontrolled pivotally-mounted member, elec tro-magnetic means for controlling the operation of the holding device, upon being de-energizeiand means for resetting the weight upon the re-energization of the electroma-gnet.

12. Switch mechanism'comprisinga movable switch member, means, comprising a latch for holding the movable member in switch-elosing position, a weight for rendermg the latch ineffective and permlttlng the movable member tomove to open position, a

eiectromagnet, a movable member controlled thereby for rendering the latch ineilective in holding the weight upont-he de-energization of the electromagnet, and means for resetting the weight upon the re-energization ofthe electromagnet.

14-. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch member, means for holding said member in'switch-closing position, gravityactuable means for rendering the holding means ineffective, means for then moving'the switch memberto openposition, and means controlled by the movable member for re setting the gravity-actnable means ror a subsequent operation. v

15. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch member, means as holding said member. in switch-closing position, gravityactuable means ior rendering the holding means ineffective, means normally. holding the gravity-actuable means in operative position, vmeans tending tomovethe switch lUU Ill)

member to open position and operativeafter the holding means is rendered ineffective, an electromagnet, means controlled thereby for effecting the release ofthe gravitygactuable' means and means controlled by the electromagnet for resetting the gravity-actuable means. I i r v i J 16. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch member, means for holding said member in switch-closing position, gravityactuable means for rendering the holding means ineffective, means normally holding the gravity-actuable means in operative position, means tending to move the switch memher to open position and operative after the holding means is rendered ineffective, an

electromagnet, means controlled thereby, for effecting the release of the gravity-actuable means, and means controlled by the movablemember for resetting the gravity-actuable member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of March,

GRANVILLE E. PALMER. 

